CINCINNATI — A Cincinnati family says they bought the U.S. flag captured on a live camera as it was being torn to shreds by Hurricane Florence to honor the memory of a family member who recently died from cancer.

Mike Caruso, of Cincinnati says his family was motivated by the tattered flag's ordeal during the hurricane, and it also reminded him of his brother, Charlotte resident Kevin Caruso. Kevin Caruso died Sunday, just hours before bidding on the flag closed.

Mike Caruso says the purchase was also motivated by online commentators nicknaming the flag "Kevin."

Kevin Caruso was a 1972 graduate of Elder High School, according to the school.

Family of Kevin Caruso '72 (Charlotte, NC) who passed away over the weekend, purchased the flag because "it stood firm...was resilient...and never gave up", just as Kevin did in his lifetime. Rest In Peace, Kevin. #Altiorahttps://t.co/Yon9jTBNl6

The flag earned a national reputation while flying off the coast of North Carolina on the Frying Pan Tower, a former lighthouse that is now an inn.

The family won the auction for $10,900.

This photo provided by Jacob Jordan shows Frying Pan Tower. A North Carolina man and his fiancee are riding out Hurricane Matthew on top of the old Coast Guard light station more than 30 miles off the Atlantic coast. Richard Neal is the owner of Frying Pan Tower, a platform that is about 100 or so feet above the ocean, only reachable by helicopter or boat.(Photo: Jacob Jordan via AP)